portress in the Rue Montmartre to the Lorgelins
are my slaves, and dare not disobey one single command which I may
issue."

Catenac rose slowly and solemnly from his seat.

"I recognize your patience and ingenuity thoroughly, only I am going
with one word to crush the fabric of hope that you have so carefully
erected."

Catenac might be a coward, he might also be a traitor but he was a
clever and clear-sighted man too. Consequently Hortebise shivered as
he heard these words, but Mascarin smiled disdainfully, basking in his
dream of success.

"Go on then," said he.

"Well, then, let me tell you that you will not overreach and deceive the
Duke."

"And why not, pray?" asked Mascarin. "But are you sure that I wish to
deceive him? You have not been open with me, why should I be frank
with you? Am I in the habit of confiding in those who do not repose
confidence in me? Does Perpignan for a moment suspect the part that he
is to play? Why may I not have judged it best to keep from you the fact
that Paul is really the child you are seeking?"

Mascarin spoke so confidently that Catenac gazed upon him, hardly
knowing to what conclusion to come, for his conscience was by no means
clear. His intellect quickly dived into the depths of all probabilities,
and yet he could not see in all these combinations any possible peril to
himself.

"I only hope," said he, "that Paul is all that you represent him to
be; but why all these precautions? Only, mark my words, the Duke has
an infallible way of detecting, or rather of preventing, any attempt at
imposition. It is ever thus, the most trivial circumstance will overset
the best laid plans, and the inevitable destroy the combinations of the
most astute intellect."

Mascarin interrupted his associate.

"Paul is the son of the Duke de Champdoce," said he decisively.

What was the meaning of this? Catenac felt that he was being played
with, and grew angry.

"As you please; but you will, I presume, permit me to convince myself of
the truth of this assertion."

Then, advancing towards Paul, the lawyer said,--

"Have the goodness to remove your coat."

Paul took it off, and threw it upon the back of a chair.

"Now," added Catenac, "roll up your right shirt sleeve to the shoulder."

Scarcely had the young man obeyed, and the lawyer cast a rapid glance at
the bare flesh, than he turned to his associates and observed,--

"No, he is not the right man."

To his extreme surprise,